Improvement in life-rafts



UNITED STATES -PATENT GEEICE.

CHARLES PARKER, OF WENONA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN LIFE-RAFTS.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNO. 157,215, dated November 24, 1874; application led August 29,1874.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES PARKER, of Wenona, in the county of Marshall and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Life-Rafts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan View of my improved liferaft. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a tube or buoy, showing the end provided with a cap or false head.

Like letters in all the figures of the drawing indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a life-raft capable of accommodating a large number of persons, and constructed so that it can be readily folded into a small compass and stowed away on ship-board when not in use, and thrown overboard and unfolded in case of an emergency, to receive planks 'or other substitutes for a iloorin g or deck, in order to receive the persons and goods committed to it. This I accomplish by constructing the said raft in four or more sections, each section consisting of four or more tubes, arranged and secured rigidly together in parallel rows by means of continuous iron bands or straps riveted or bolted together between the said tubes, each tube being provided on the end with a cap or false head, so that the real head will secure the tube from leakage in case of any rupture or accidental blow that might be caused to the cap, the latter affording the proper bearing for attaching a link or other suitable device to connect the tubes with those of the opposite section, the ends of the bands being constructed so as to afford a loose or hinged connection with those of the adjoining sections, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

A are the tubes, of metal or rubber, from ten inches in diameter or upward, and eight feet or upward in length, and provided each with a cap or false head, a, having a staple, eyebolt, or its equivalent attached to itin any suitable manner, and made to t over the end of the tube, and riveted thereon in a substantial manner. The real head b is set back at a short distance from the cap on the inside of the tube, and provided with a flange, by which it is riveted to the inner walls of the tube. rlhus the real head will secure the tube from leakage in case the cap should be ruptured, as before stated.

The tubes thus constructed are arranged,

`four or more, in parallel rows, to constitute a section, and are rigidly secured together at suitable distances apart by the continuous iron bands B, a band being made to encompass each tube above and below, near their ends, and riveted firmly together between the tubes.

The ends of the bands are provided with eyes to receive a ring, lilik, or other device, so that, in connection with iron clevises, two or more sections can be attached together. (See Fig. 1.)

I contemplate forming the raft of four or more sections, C D E F, the two adjoining sections and the two opposite sections being united by iron clevises, and, of course, the raft can be reduced or enlarged in size by attaching or detaching a section, as may be required.

The operation of this invention is as follows: The raft admits of being folded into a small compass, so as to be suspended on stanchions or hooks under the bulwarks of a vessel, to be ready at any emergency to be hurled overboard by one or more persons unfolded. Sails or planks or other ooring may be then thrown across the tubes, and on this the articles to be saved as well as the passengers.

The tubes being highly buoyant and elastic, the raft is not easily submerged, one tube being capable of supporting two or more men easily.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The life-raft consisting of tubes A, provided with heads a b, and rigidly secured in parallel rows by the continuous iron bands B, and arranged in sections, each section having a hinged connection with the other by means of iron clevises, constructed to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ln testimony that -I claim the foregoing as my own invention, I affix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES PARKER.

Witnesses:

GEO. F. WIGHTMAN, S. J. TAYLOR. 

